Skip to main content
institutional access

You are connecting from
Lake Geneva Public Library,
please login or register to take advantage of your institution's Ground News Plan.

Published • loading... • Updated

Scientists Identify Two of the World’s Noisiest Birds – and They’re as Loud as a Jackhammer

Researchers measured 123 species and found the bare-throated bellbird and red-legged seriema both top 120 decibels.

  • On Tuesday, University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers published a study in the journal Evolution identifying the bare-throated bellbird and red-legged seriema as new contenders for the world's loudest birds, both exceeding 120 decibels.
  • Biologist Jeff Podos and his former graduate student João Menezes utilized laser range finders to overcome field measurement challenges that previously limited amplitude data collection on bird vocalizations.
  • Researchers discovered a 58-decibel variability in calls, ranging from hummingbirds at 64 decibels to birds exceeding 120 decibels. "Bigger birds have bulkier muscles," Menezes said, noting that broader mouths allow more energy to radiate into the environment.
  • The strictly monogamous red-legged seriema confounded theories predicting loudness correlates with polygamy. "It's a super open-habitat bird," Menezes added, indicating evolutionary reasons for such extreme vocalizations remain mysterious.
  • Mass Audubon ornithologist Nathan Senner called the findings "remarkable," stating that understanding these evolutionary behaviors could lead to better protections. Researchers anticipate discovering even louder birds as fieldwork continues on a tiny fraction of species.
Insights by Ground AI

46 Articles

Center

There are two new candidates for the world's loudest bird title, and scientists don't keep quiet about it.

Lean Left

Researchers have two new serious contenders for the title of loudest bird. Both produce sounds that, in terms of volume, could be compared to a jackhammer.

·Warsaw, Poland
Read Full Article
KVIAKVIA
+8 Reposted by 8 other sources
Center

Scientists identify two of the world’s noisiest birds – and they’re as loud as a jackhammer

By Amarachi Orie, CNN (CNN) — There are two new contenders for the world’s loudest bird – and scientists are not being quiet about it.Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that the bare-throated bellbird and the red-legged seriema both create songs at amplitudes above 120 decibels, according to a study published Tuesday in

·Panama City, United States
Read Full Article
KAKE NewsKAKE News
+13 Reposted by 13 other sources
Center

Which bird is loudest? Scientists measured 123 species to find out

The bare-throated bellbird and the red-legged seriema both make a racket above 120 peak decibels — louder than chainsaws and jackhammers.

Read Full Article
Think freely.Subscribe and get full access to Ground NewsSubscriptions start at $9.99/yearSubscribe

Bias Distribution

  • 68% of the sources are Center
68% Center

Factuality Info Icon

To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium

Ownership

Info Icon

To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage

Popular Science broke the news in Miami, United States on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
Too Big Arrow Icon
Sources are mostly out of (0)

Similar News Topics

News
Feed Dots Icon
For You
Search Icon
Search
Blindspot LogoBlindspotLocal